Broadcast Union News is a clearing center for information of interest to people working in television, film, print/electronic media, and theater. A chance for AEA, AFTRA, IATSE, IBEW, CWA-NABET, DGA, SAG, Newspaper Guild, WGA, and non-represented entertainment industry workers to share information with an eye towards improving wages, benefits, and working conditions for all.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The process of cutting up to 25% of the jobs at ABC News is all but complete.

Twenty two ABC News employees were laid off in a round of involuntary cuts yesterday. Those layoffs came after more than 300 staffers, many more than had been anticipated, agreed to take a voluntary buyout. In February, ABC News president David Westinannounced a massive reorganization which meant staff cuts between 300-400. The actual number, between 350-400, is right in line with that expectation. In addition, TVNewser has learned, 39 staffers were promoted to positions being vacated by those taking a buyout.

In a note to staff today, obtained by TVNewser, Westin writes, "We have much yet to do as we move to make full use of what new technology makes possible and we implement fully the structural and organizational changes that we've begun throughout the division. The full extent of these changes will be realized over the summer and into the fall."

The cuts come from across the network and from around the world. In bureaus and from broadcast shows and from every platform as well as the businesses that support the news division.

The special events unit has effectively been dismantled with the shows and anchors now responsible for producing and anchoring breaking news special reports depending on the time of day. The unit, headed by longtime ABC News staffer Marc Burstein, will continue to plan long-range special programming including election coverage and the production of obituaries of the well-known.

The buyout, a standard severance plus 20%, may have been attractive enough for the 300+ who took up ABC's offer. One insider tells us there was concern early on that only a few dozen might volunteer, meaning the layoffs would have been much greater. The remaining staff cuts will occur over the next few months as the contracts of some employees expire.

As you know, our original timetable for making a wide range of personnel changes called for us to be at or near completion by the end of this week. We have reached that point, and I thought it time to give you an update.

Many more people elected to take the voluntary package or a buy-out of their contract than we anticipated when we began the process. Unfortunately, however, there were a few of our colleagues that we still had to lay off earlier this week. This has been a difficult time for everyone - and most especially for those who are leaving us. We wish them well and thank them for their service.

Now it is time to look to the future. We have much yet to do as we move to make full use of what new technology makes possible and we implement fully the structural and organizational changes that we've begun throughout the division. The full extent of these changes will be realized over the summer and into the fall.

Thank you to everyone who has made it possible to do what we've had to do and - most important - have continued to report the news in keeping with the highest traditions of ABC News. ABC News is now prepared for the future; prepared first and foremost editorially and creatively but also prepared economically and technically. From this base, we are positioned to grow and to do even greater work than we have in the past.

• Related, Los Angeles Times'Matea Gold: "...staffers within the news division describe the cutbacks as an excruciating and demoralizing chapter that has left many of them questioning how the pared-down news division will be able to compete."

No comments:

The CUNY Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies

Check out the labor classes available at the CUNY Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies. There is a joint CUNY/Cornell Certificate in Employee Labor Relations program, and undergraduate Union Semester program and the MA in Labor Studies program that I finished in June 2011 . See the info at: http://www.workered.org/

The East Coast Council handles production of low-budget feature films, defined as $8 million and below. The Council represents all below-the-line production locals within the IATSE (camera, hair, makeup, props, electricians, etc.) They take a flexible approach to the crewing of productions, by reducing member wages and benefits based on deferment.

For more information about the East Coast Council, contact either of its co-chairmen, Local 600 Eastern Regional Director Chaim Kantor (212-647-7300) or Local 52 President John Ford (212-399-0980).